| October
1863 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry An American Civil War Regiment |
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--Evansville Gazette newspaper, Oct. 3, '63, Evansville, Ind. |
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Also included below are quotes from primary and secondary sources that are intended to give insights into what the times, and the soldiers' lives, were like. These quotes have been entered on the date they were written or published (unless otherwise noted) and without changing the original grammar or spelling. Abbreviations used on this page include: Adjt.=Adjutant; Capt.=Captain; Co.=Company; Col.=Colonel; Cpl.=Corporal; C.S.A.=Confederate States of America; Div.=Division; Ga.=Georgia; Gen.=General; Gov.=Governor; Ind.=Indiana; Ky.=Kentucky; Lieut.=Lieutenant; mi.=miles; Mus.=Musician; Pvt.=Private; Rd.=road; Sergt.=Sergeant; U.S.=United States; and '63=1863. The 80th Indiana was formed in response to President Lincoln's call for 300,000 more volunteers for the Federal Army. The 80th left Indiana in September, 1862, and did not return until July, 1865. During that time it marched over 3,700 miles on foot and fought in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. Of the roughly 1,036 men who served in it, only 320 were still with the 80th when it came home. Sources: 80th Indiana Consolidated Morning Reports;
Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volumes III and
IV, 1861-1865 (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1866); personal diary of Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, 80th Ind.; personal diary of Pvt. John K. King Co. A, 80th Ind. (1862-1865); and other items as noted. |
| Dates | Synopsis of 80th Service | Quotes |
Oct. 1 Thursday |
Disageeable Night. Rained overnight. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"It is raining here for the first time since we came here." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "We made us a shelter by fixing up some [wooden fence] rails like the rafters of a house, which we shingled with our gum blankets to protect us from the rain, and made beds of straw underneath." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary |
Oct. 2 Friday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"Camp news. Old Bragg and Rosencrans have had another fight." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary [Refers to the Sept, 19-20, '63, battle at Chickamauga, Ga., where the army of C.S.A. Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg defeated the Federal army led by U.S. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans in what would prove to be the second bloodiest battle of the war.] |
Oct. 3 Saturday |
New Recruits. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Mustered into the Army. Recruit John Buckenberger into Co. F Recruit Charles Johnson into Co. F Recruit William C. Orr Recruit William H. H. Ranner into Co. G Recruit James L. Watson into Co. F |
"I went across the river three miles after apples." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 4 Sunday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "Cool and pleasant." |
"A still day in camp." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 5 Monday |
Drew Tents. Co. A on picket duty. Line officers of the Div. received captured Rebel wall tents. Sutler Lockhart departed for Ind. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"No news of interest in camp. I am on picket. I sent a letter home by Lockhart." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "A. B. Lockhart our sutler started home today, and I sent a communication for the "Princeton Clarion" giving a brief account of some of the incidents of our march to East Tennessee." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary [A sutler was private citizen who had a contract to supply a specific regiment with goods the Army did not provide, such writing supplies, newspapers, foodstuffs, tobacco and alcohol (the latter supposedly only for the officers, since enlisted men were prohibited from drinking alcohol by the Army.] |
Oct. 6 Tuesday |
Louden. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
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Oct. 7 Wednesday |
Rainy Day. Co. A on picket duty. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "It is raining." |
"Out on picket. Twelve of us on a post." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 8 Thursday |
Perryville Anniversary. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "Clear and pleasant." |
"The bloody scenes enacted at Perryville one year ago today were such that those who saw them can never forget. Though I may be spared to old age; though sight may fail; and should I ever forget the names and ages of my two children, I cannot forget the incidents of that dreadful day. The scenes of that day are indelibly engraven on the memory and cannot be erased by time or circumstance." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary |
Oct. 9 Friday |
Alarm Made. At 10:00 P.M. alarm was made and pickets doubled. No attack occurred. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
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Oct. 10 Saturday |
Mail Call. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Mustered into the Army. Recruit Samuel Melton into Co. I |
"All still in camp. Good news for the 80th. Our mail has come. I got six letters." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 11 Sunday |
Jeremiah 8:9. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"At church. Jerimiah 8:9." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary [Jeremiah 8:9 states: "The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?"] |
Oct. 12 Monday |
Loudon. Co. A on picket duty. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "It is raining." Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Simpson B. Padget Co. B |
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Oct. 13 Tuesday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "Still raining." |
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Oct. 14 Wednesday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "Clear day." |
"Building a chimney to our tent. Josh Shannon [Pvt. Joshua Shannon Co. A] took sick." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 15 Thursday |
New Second in Command. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "Raining very hard." Commissioned by Ind. Gov. Morton as line officer in 80th F&S. Adjt. Alfred Dale Owen as Lieut. Col. |
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Oct. 16 Friday |
Foraging. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Discharged from the Army. Pvt. John Alford Co. D |
"I went with the forage [wagon] train 10 miles after corn. Killed a squirrel." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 17 Saturday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
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Oct. 18 Sunday |
Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "It rained all day." |
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Oct. 19, '63 Monday |
Lodge Meeting. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"Our [Masonic] Lodge met again tonight and Dr. Jacques [Surg. George B. Jaquess F&S], who received a clear ballot while we were at Woodsonville [Ky.], was initiated." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary |
Oct. 20 Tuesday |
Long Roll. Cannon fire heard from near Philadelphia starting about 1:00 P.M. Long roll sounded at 3:30 P.M. Marched to defensive positions and stacked arms at 4:15 P.M. At 5:15 P.M. Co.'s A and F deployed as skirmishers in front as firing could be heard nearby on our left. Firing stopped about 6:00 P.M. Ordered to remain overnight in defensive positions before Loudon, Tenn. Mustered into the Army. Recruit John A. J. White |
"The skirmishing has now ceased, and it is not likely to be renewed before morning...Men who were detailed from the different Companies for that purpose have returned from camp with our blankets, and the company cooks are prepairing rations for tomorrow, which they are ordered to bring to us before day light in the morning." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary "...the regiment was in line of battle all night." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 21 Wednesday |
Thunder and Skirmishing. Thundered before daybreak and rained about 8:00 A.M. Returned to camp in Loudon at 9:00 A.M. Crash of small arms heard about 3 mi. off starting around 10:00 A.M. Federal Cavalry drove enemy away. Camped at Loudon, Tenn. |
"An incident occured under my observation yesterday, which shows how indifferent men may become, even in the midst of apparent dangers of the most fearful character. After having taken our position and stacked arms in line of battle, no sooner was the order given to "break ranks", than four men in a company adjoining my own sat down before their gun stacks, and delibertly commenced the game of "Euchre", dealing their cards with as much composure as they would dispose of the nick-nacks at a pick-nick, and that too in the hearing of muskets, while skirmishing was going on not more than a mile from us at our left." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary "It is raining. Heavy skirmishing all day." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 22 Thursday |
Reinforcements. U.S. Maj. Gen. Ambrose P. Burnside arrived at Loudon with 12 regiments from the 9th Army Corps. Camped at Loudon, Tenn. |
"Twelve regiments of the 9th A.C. [9th Army Corps] are near us. It is a beautiful sight to see their camp fires." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 23 Friday |
Stormy Weather. Co. A on picket duty. No fighting. Camped at Loudon, Tenn. "It rained hard all day." |
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Oct. 24 Saturday |
Distant Gunfire. Heard sounds of skirmishing all day from near Philadelphia, Tenn. In evening all camp and garrison equipment loaded on wagons and moved across Tennessee River to safety in case of attack. Camped overnight near Loudon, Tenn. "Cloudy cool day." |
"Great excitement. Skirmishing all evening. Took our tents over the river and we expected to start every moment. A very cool night. I received a letter from home." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 25 Sunday |
Quiet Sabbath. Wagons returned and camp and garrison equipment unloaded in morning. Wagons reloaded in evening, but remain overnight with the Regt. Camped overnight near Loudon, Tenn. |
"Still in our old camp. Our tents came back at 8 A.M. at 5 P.M. we were ordered over the river. At 8 P.M. we came back. We had a pleasant night's sleep." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 26 Monday |
Skirmishing Renewed. Sounds of firing heard in distance. Camped overnight on south side of Tennessee River near Loudon, Tenn. |
"Cannonading hard all evening. I am on picket duty. At 1 A.M. the pickets on the other road were fired on and two were taken prisoners. Josh Shannon [Pvt. Joshua Shannon Co. A] went to Knoxville to the hospital." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 27 Tuesday |
Ordered Ready. Reveille at 5:00 A.M. Ordered to be ready to move at moment's notice. Light rain at daybreak, but cleared up soon after. Remained in camp all day. Camped overnight on south side of Tennessee River near Loudon, Tenn. Died at Loudon, Tenn. Cpl. Thomas W. Crotts Co. I |
"All quiet today." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 28 Wednesday |
Over the River. Shortly after midnight was ordered to be ready to move at 6:00 A.M. Starting at 7:00 A.M. crossed over pontoon bridge to north side of Tennessee River without music or noise. Dense fog in afternoon. Went into camp on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. |
"At 10 A.M. took the pontoon [bridge] out [of the Tennessee River] and gave the Rebs full possession of Louden." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "While the evacuation was progressing, the steam was raised in the locomotive at the Loudon [railroad] Depot...as the train could not be gotten over the river under the emergency of the occassion...The 80th had crossed the river in full view of the grand but melancholly scene when the train left the depot about 300 yards from the river...it increased in velocity till it reached the end of the track, and was precipitated from the top of the abutment one hundred feet from the river with a crash and a hiss that might be heard a log distance...Our boys seemed much disheartened, supposing it to be the intention to evacuate East Tennessee; but after having passed the River, the 2nd Division went into camp..." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary |
Oct. 29 Thursday |
Near Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River near Loudon, Tenn. Died at Danville, Ky. Pvt. Isaac Decker Co. G |
"Lying in camp awaiting orders." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 30 Friday |
Near Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River near Loudon, Tenn. "It is raining." |
"Still awaiting orders. Cannonading heard." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary |
Oct. 31, '63 Saturday |
Near Loudon. Camped on north side of Tennessee River near Loudon, Tenn. "Still and pleasant day in camp." "PRESENT FOR DUTY. Captain...............1 1st Lieutenants...1 2d Lieutenants...1 Sergeants...........2 Corporals..........5 Drummers..........1 Fifers.................1 Wagoners..........1 Privates...........11" Morning Report of Co. G, signed by: 1st Sergt. James F. Cantwell Capt. Jeremiah C. Gladish |
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